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stopped too； and sank into the earth； a dull brown stain。 For an
instant the stillness of death followed the echoless report； then
there was a quick and feverish rustling within the barn； the
hurried opening of a window in the loft； scurrying footsteps；
another interval of silence； and then out of the farther darkness
the sounds of horse…hoofs in the muffled dust of the road。 But not
a sound or movement in the sleeping house beyond。
The stars at last paled slowly； the horizon lines came back；a
thin streak of opal fire。 A solitary bird twittered in the bush
beside the spring。 Then the back door of the house opened； and the
constable came forth； half…awakened and apologetic； and with the
bewildered haste of a belated man。 His eyes were level； looking
for his missing leader as he went on； until at last he stumbled and
fell over the now cold and rigid body。 He scrambled to his feet
again； cast a hurried glance around him；at the half…opened door
of the barn； at the floor littered with trampled hay。 In one
corner lay the ragged blouse and trousers of the fugitive； which
the constable instantly recognized。 He went back to the house； and
reappeared in a few moments with Ira； white； stupefied； and
hopelessly bewildered； clear only in his statement that his wife
had just fainted at the news of the catastrophe； and was equally
helpless in her own room。 The constablea man of narrow ideas but
quick actionsaw it all。 The mystery was plain without further
evidence。 The deputy had been awakened by the prowling of the
fugitive around the house in search of a horse。 Sallying out； they
had met； and Ira's gun； which stood in the kitchen； and which the
deputy had seized； had been wrested from him and used with fatal
effect at arm's length； and the now double assassin had escaped on
the sheriff's horse； which was missing。 Turning the body over to
the trembling Ira； he saddled his horse and galloped to Lowville
for assistance。
These facts were fully established at the hurried inquest which met
that day。 There was no need to go behind the evidence of the
constable； the only companion of the murdered man and first
discoverer of the body。 The fact that he； on the ground floor； had
slept through the struggle and the report； made the obliviousness
of the couple in the room above a rational sequence。 The dazed Ira
was set aside； after half a dozen contemptuous questions； the
chivalry of a Californian jury excused the attendance of a
frightened and hysterical woman confined to her room。 By noon they
had departed with the body； and the long afternoon shadows settled
over the lonely plain and silent house。 At nightfall Ira appeared
at the door； and stood for some moments scanning the plain； he was
seen later by two packers； who had glanced furtively at the scene
of the late tragedy； sitting outside his doorway； a mere shadow in
the darkness； and a mounted patrol later in the night saw a light
in the bedroom window where the invalid Mrs。 Beasley was confined。
But no one saw her afterwards。 Later； Ira explained that she had
gone to visit a relative until her health was restored。 Having few
friends and fewer neighbors； she was not missed； and even the
constable； the sole surviving guest who had enjoyed her brief
eminence of archness and beauty that fatal night； had quite
forgotten her in his vengeful quest of the murderer。 So that
people became accustomed to see this lonely man working in the
fields by day； or at nightfall gazing fixedly from his doorway。 At
the end of three months he was known as the recluse or 〃hermit〃 of
Bolinas Plain； in the rapid history…making of that epoch it was
forgotten that he had ever been anything else。
But Justice； which in those days was apt to nod over the affairs of
the average citizen； was keenly awake to offenses against its own
officers； and it chanced that the constable； one day walking
through the streets of Marysville； recognized the murderer and
apprehended him。 He was removed to Lowville。 Here； probably
through some modest doubt of the ability of the County Court； which
the constable represented； to deal with purely circumstantial
evidence； he was not above dropping a hint to the local Vigilance
Committee； who； singularly enough； in spite of his resistance； got
possession of the prisoner。 It was the rainy season； and business
was slack； the citizens of Lowville were thus enabled to give so
notorious a case their fullest consideration； and to assist
cheerfully at the ultimate hanging of the prisoner； which seemed to
be a foregone conclusion。
But herein they were mistaken。 For when the constable had given
his evidence； already known to the county； there was a disturbance
in the fringe of humanity that lined the walls of the assembly room
where the committee was sitting； and the hermit of Bolinas Plain
limped painfully into the room。 He had evidently walked there： he
was soaked with rain and plastered with mud； he was exhausted and
inarticulate。 But as he staggered to the witness…bench； and
elbowed the constable aside； he arrested the attention of every
one。 A few laughed； but were promptly silenced by the court。 It
was a reflection upon its only virtue；sincerity。
〃Do you know the prisoner？〃 asked the judge。
Ira Beasley glanced at the pale face of the acrobat； and shook his
head。
〃Never saw him before；〃 he said faintly。
〃Then what are you doing here？〃 demanded the judge sternly。
Ira collected himself with evident effort； and rose to his halting
feet。 First he moistened his dry lips； then he said； slowly and
distinctly； 〃Because I killed the deputy of Bolinas。〃
With the thrill which ran through the crowded room； and the relief
that seemed to come upon him with that utterance； he gained
strength and even a certain dignity。
〃I killed him；〃 he went on； turning his head slowly around the
circle of eager auditors with the rigidity of a wax figure；
〃because he made love to my wife。 I killed him because he wanted
to run away with her。 I killed him because I found him waiting for
her at the door of the barn at the dead o' night； when she'd got
outer bed to jine him。 He hadn't no gun。 He hadn't no fight。 I
killed him in his tracks。 That man；〃 pointing to the prisoner；
〃wasn't in it at all。〃 He stopped； loosened his collar； and；
baring his rugged throat below his disfigured ear； said： 〃Now take
me out and hang me！〃
〃What proof have we of this？ Where's your wife？ Does she
corroborate it？〃
A slight tremor ran over him。
〃She ran away that night； and never came back again。 Perhaps；〃 he
added slowly； 〃because she loved him and couldn't bear me； perhaps；
as I've sometimes allowed to myself； gentlemen； it was because she
didn't want to bear evidence agin me。〃
In the silence that followed the prisoner was heard speaking to one
that was near him。 Then he rose。 All the audacity and confidence
that the husband h